Dishwasher comprising a sorption drying device, and method for the operation thereof

Abstract

A dishwasher comprising at least one partial program step “drying” in which air from a washing container of the dishwasher and/or ambient air is directed through a sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container by a fan, and humidity is removed from the air when the same is directed therethrough. The fan is operated at different rotational speeds in accordance with a main controller of the dishwasher in order to influence the adsorption process.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dishwasher, comprising:
 a washing container; 
 a main control system programmed to conduct a plurality of partial program steps including at least a drying partial program step and a cleaning partial program step; 
 a sorption drying device connected to the washing container in an air-conducting manner and to dry crockery therein, the sorption drying device comprising a variable speed fan and a sorption column that includes a reversibly dehydratable material; and 
 wherein in the drying partial program step the variable speed fan is configured to conduct at least one of air from the washing container and ambient air through the sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container, thereby removing moisture from the air during passage therethrough, and wherein in the cleaning partial program step, the variable speed fan is configured to conduct at least one of air from the washing container and ambient air through the sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container thereby desorbing the reversibly dehydratable material and warming at least one of the washing container, washing solution, and crockery therein, and wherein the main control system is configured to control and provide different rotational speeds for the variable speed fan, wherein the main control system operates the variable speed fan at a first rotational speed during the drying partial program step, and at a different second rotational speed during the cleaning partial program step. 
 
     
     
       2. The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein thermal energy for desorption of the sorption column is utilized to heat up at least one of the washing solution and the crockery in the washing container. 
     
     
       3. The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of air from the washing container and ambient air is directed through the sorption column and into the washing container during a partial program step of the dishwasher that heats up the washing solution. 
     
     
       4. The dishwasher of  claim 3 , wherein the partial program step of the dishwasher is the drying partial program step. 
     
     
       5. The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the washing container has an outlet and an inlet, wherein a first pipe is configured to connect the outlet of the washing container with the sorption column, wherein a second pipe is configured to connect the inlet of the washing container from the sorption column; and wherein the fan is arranged in the first pipe to introduce a portion of one of air from the washing container and ambient air into the washing container. 
     
     
       6. The dishwasher of  claim 5 , wherein the first pipe comprises a shutoff valve and, downstream of the shutoff valve and in the direction of an air flow, an inlet valve to take in ambient air. 
     
     
       7. The dishwasher of  claim 5 , further comprising a heating element to desorb the reversibly dehydratable material and to heat up air introduced into the washing container. 
     
     
       8. The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein the heating element is an electric heating element. 
     
     
       9. The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein the heating element is arranged in the reversibly dehydratable material. 
     
     
       10. The dishwasher of  claim 7 , wherein the heating element is arranged in the first pipe. 
     
     
       11. The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a control element to select the speed of the fan one of steplessly and in a plurality of steps. 
     
     
       12. The dishwasher of  claim 11 , wherein the fan speed is regulated for controlling drying time. 
     
     
       13. The dishwasher of  claim 2 , further comprising a heat accumulator to store the thermal energy for desorption of the sorption column prior to utilizing the thermal energy to heat the at least one of the washing solution and the crockery. 
     
     
       14. The dishwasher of  claim 13 , wherein the heat accumulator is a latent accumulator. 
     
     
       15. The dishwasher of  claim 5 , wherein the dishwasher comprises a closed air system. 
     
     
       16. The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein air is heated by condensation heat as the air is directed through the sorption column. 
     
     
       17. The dishwasher of  claim 16 , wherein the air is additionally heated by an electrical heating element. 
     
     
       18. A method for treating crockery disposed in a washing container, comprising:
 a. providing a dishwasher, the dishwasher comprising:
 i. a washing container; 
 ii. a main control system programmed to conduct a plurality of partial program steps including at least a drying partial program step and a cleaning partial program step; 
 iii. a sorption drying device connected to the washing container in an air-conducting manner and to dry crockery therein, the sorption drying device comprising a variable speed fan and a sorption column that includes a reversibly dehydratable material; and 
 wherein in the drying partial program step the variable speed fan is configured to conduct at least one of air from the washing container and ambient air through the sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container, thereby removing moisture from the air during passage therethrough, and wherein in the cleaning partial program step, the variable speed fan is configured to conduct at least one of air from the washing container and ambient air through the sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container thereby desorbing the reversibly dehydratable material and warming at least one of the washing container, washing solution, and crockery therein, and wherein the main control system is configured to control and provide different rotational speeds for the variable speed fan, wherein the main control system operates the variable speed fan at a first rotational speed during the drying partial program step, and at a different second rotational speed during the cleaning partial program step; and 
 
 b. subjecting the crockery to partial program steps, comprising at least a cleaning partial program step, a rinsing partial program step, and a drying partial program step, wherein air is passed by motive force of the variable speed fan into contact with the crockery during at least one of the cleaning, rinsing, and drying partial program steps and such air is thereafter guided to the sorption drying device, wherein the sorption drying device is connected to the washing container in an air-conducting manner for passage of the air therebetween, the reversibly dehydratable material of the sorption column operates to withdraw moisture from the air during passage of the air through the sorption column, crockery retained in the dishwasher being subjected to a drying partial program step after having undergone a treatment partial program step as a result of which moisture remains on the crockery, the drying partial program step including passing air from the washing container through the sorption column, whereupon humidity is removed from the air as it is directed through the sorption column. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein thermal energy for desorption of the sorption column is utilized to heat up at least one of the washing solution and the crockery in the washing container. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the air is directed through the sorption column by the variable speed fan, wherein the variable speed fan can be steplessly operated at a variable speed, and wherein the speed of the variable speed fan is established according to a desired duration of the drying partial program step. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the air is directed through the sorption column by the variable speed fan, wherein the variable speed fan can be operated at a variable speed in a plurality of steps, wherein the speed of the variable speed fan is established according to a desired duration of the drying partial program step. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the speed may be pre-selected by a user of the dishwasher using a control element of the main control system. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the variable speed fan speed is regulated for controlling drying time. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 23 , wherein increasing variable speed fan speed accelerates adsorption and reduces drying time. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 23 , wherein decreasing variable speed fan speed reduces noise emission and increases drying time. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 18 , wherein air is heated by condensation heat as the air is directed through the sorption column and is additionally heated, if necessary, by an electric heating element. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the washing items to be treated are not heated in a partial program step preceding the drying partial program step. 
     
     
       28. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the washing items to be treated are heated during a partial program step preceding the drying partial program step. 
     
     
       29. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cleaning partial program step further comprises a prewashing step and an intermediate washing step. 
     
     
       30. The method of  claim 18 , wherein at the beginning of the cleaning partial program step washing solution is heated to a nominal temperature. 
     
     
       31. The method of  claim 30 , wherein the variable speed fan speed may be pre-selected by a user of the dishwasher to accelerate heating of the washing solution to a nominal temperature. 
     
     
       32. The method of  claim 30 , wherein an additional heating element is used to accelerate heating of the washing solution to a nominal temperature. 
     
     
       33. The method of  claim 32 , wherein the additional heating element comprises one of a water heating system and an air heating system. 
     
     
       34. The method of  claim 18 , wherein desorption of the reversibly dehydratable material occurs during the cleaning partial program step.